How do I stop search engines outside Facebook linking to my profile, and what if a result stays visible?

Before changing anything, privately save your exact profile URL, the unwanted result’s URL, the search engine’s name and the date. Confirm the account you intend to change. Do not send private profile details or screenshots to a removal service.

1. Confirm that you are signed into the Facebook account you want to manage. Privately note the exact profile URL and any unwanted search result URL so you can distinguish a profile listing from a particular public post.
2. The documented Android route is Menu at the top right → Settings & privacy → Settings → Audience and visibility → How people find and contact you → Do you want search engines outside of Facebook to link to your profile? Do not assume the Menu is in the same corner on iPhone; use the in-app Help for your device if the route differs.
3. Read the explanation beside the control before changing it. Its scope includes links from outside search engines and whether Facebook directly provides public profile content, such as posts, to those engines. It is not a promise to remove everything already indexed.
4. If you want this setting off, choose off and complete any save or confirmation step shown. Leave the section, return and check that the intended state remains selected. This confirms the saved setting, not disappearance from search results.
5. Review your own public posts and public profile details separately. Check the audience of the specific content shown in the unwanted result and change the available audience settings if that matches your intention; the external-search switch is not an audience selector for individual posts.
6. Check the relevant search result separately and record its URL and the check date privately if it remains. An old listing can outlast a settings change; do not keep toggling the Facebook setting because the result has not immediately vanished.
7. For an outdated or unwanted listing, open that search engine’s official help and check whether its outdated-result or removal process applies. Follow the stated requirements without assuming eligibility, a removal guarantee or a deadline. Avoid third-party services asking for your Facebook login.
8. If the Facebook control is missing or its saved state keeps reverting, consult official in-app Help for current labels and your device. For a persistent technical malfunction, use the available problem-reporting option and record the device, app version and exact behavior without including private content. A persistent search listing alone does not prove that the switch failed.